HM Oils In New or Leak Free Vehicles?

[Jelly]

This from fellow BiTOG'er NewGuy:

"Does anyone worry about the gasket selling additives causing trouble in new vehicles? It would seem that if the additives swell gaskets and then they are removed the gaskets would be less effective (on a new vehicle) than if they were not swelled at all.

The addition of these "swelling agents" is what has kept me from using a high mileage product in an old Jeep 4.0. The jeep runs fine and doesn't leak at all. Am I being over cautious?"

What say you?

 

[Eddie]

IMHO: 75,000 miles is NOT a high mileage engine and I am of the opinion that one should NOT use an oil with seal swelling chemical untill small leaks are detected. There is a limit on how much or how long a seal will last when subjected to these chemicals.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jelly:
This from fellow BiTOG'er NewGuy:

"Does anyone worry about the gasket selling additives causing trouble in new vehicles? It would seem that if the additives swell gaskets and then they are removed the gaskets would be less effective (on a new vehicle) than if they were not swelled at all.

The addition of these "swelling agents" is what has kept me from using a high mileage product in an old Jeep 4.0. The jeep runs fine and doesn't leak at all. Am I being over cautious?"

What say you?

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This is a very good question. I know I am tempted to use these oils in my newer vehicles because the specs are so much better thean the standard off the shelf SM oils (though I know they seem to be perdforming fine). What causes the seal swelling/conditioning? Would a newer seal with no cracks or fissures be affected?
Or is the seal conditioning a result of group V adds in HM Oils and nothing to really worry about?

 

[427Z06]

Good question, Jelly. I also wonder if all HM oils use the same "method" to quell oil leaks. I.e., do some attempt to clean the seals while others try to swell the seals?

 

[TallPaul]

I don't think seal swelling is an issue. They would have a balanced additive package, a seal conditioner, not a seal sweller alone. If Maxlife makes your engine leak it would be because it cleans the crud off the seals clearing the false seal, then the conditioner can fix it. So it seems to me. The following was posted at this site back about last July by DSteven:

quote:

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There have been many people that start using a high mileage oil with good intentions. Then seapage and leaks start and it's time to quit using the HM oil, because it has caused seaps and leaks!! I experienced the same situation. The key is to keep using it. The seapages are caused because the previous oils allowed buildup and sludge to cover the gaskets and oil wouldn't even get into that area to leak. The HM oils clean out the 'crud' and expose the gasket materials, which usually at that point are getting brittle and dried, therefor allowing the oil to seap or leak. This can be when the driver becomes alarmed and stops using the HM oil. Well, the bottles should explain the process better. It is annoying to see the leaks, but that is when the HM oils are able to swell and repair the gaskets and seals! I have been using Castrol HM in my father's Taurus. After 3 oil changes, seapage was occuring. He bacame alarmed at the leak. Then the store only had Castrol Syntec Blend, which made the seaping worse!! After the switch back to the HM oil, the leaks have stopped. He is happy, and we now understand why the leaks started and stopped. I hope this helps!

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[novadude]

Where's our chemistry experts? I've often wondered about this, and I've never gotten a clear answer.

 

[MarkC]

My 96 Jeep 4.0 has almost 105K on it, and has never leaked or consumed oil. I did a double ARX treat and rinse, and noticed something dripping very slightly from between the oil pan and bell housing. Never figured out what it was, but the oil level doesn't drop.
I put in Chevron HM 10W30, and it's doing very fine.
I plan a UOA in a few weeks.

 

[3000GT VR-4]

From Valvoline's product information sheet:

"Valvoline's Maxlife Synthetic motor oil is safe for use in new and rebuilt engines and will not void new car warranties."

 

[n8wvi]

Perhaps instead of 'swelling agents' they just "de-harden" already hardened seals, but have little affect on seals that AREN'T hard. I'm thinking of the almost miraculous "stop leak" affect that many of us saw in the last formula of Pennzoil LongLife 15w40. This wasn't an oil made specifically for vehicles with questionable oil seals, and was certainly made for new vehicles. I seriously doubt it had "seal swellers" in it. This was an oil that was intended to be used in a vehicle w/ engine warranties pushing 1 million miles. It was just a darn good oil, and was good to the seals with "making" them do anything special. Am I making sense

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by n8wvi:
Perhaps instead of 'swelling agents' they just "de-harden" already hardened seals, but have little affect on seals that AREN'T hard.

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Hmmm...I think I got some old seal material around the garage some place. Maybe a test is in order?